Bigger is definitely better for transatlantic travellers now that IAG airlines British Airways and Iberia's joint business with American Airlines has been extended to include American's merger partner, US Airways.
Following the merger between American Airlines and US Airways, customers booking with British Airways and Iberia will now be able to choose from a total of 70 direct flights a day between the UK and US and up to 16 flights per day between Spain and North America.
The Atlantic joint business now includes all scheduled flights operated by oneworld alliance members American and US Airways, British Airways, Iberia and Finnair between North America and Europe.
It is a revenue sharing agreement under which member airlines have permission to co-ordinate schedules and pricing on North Atlantic routes.
US Airways brings 28 transatlantic routes into the joint business, of which 27 are new, and gives customers of British Airways and Iberia access to more than 50 additional new destinations in North America.
This includes direct flights from London and Manchester to Charlotte; Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh to Philadelphia; Madrid and Barcelona to Philadelphia and Charlotte.
Between London and New York the joint business provides up to 17 flights a day in each direction.
The stream of traffic from over 240 destinations in North America will allow customers to flow quickly and smoothly through American and US Airways' nine hubs (New York's JFK, Miami, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Charlotte, Philadelphia and Washington DC) to cross the Atlantic to Europe on one of the five airlines.
Willie Walsh, IAG chief executive, said: "The inclusion of US Airways will not only expand the network of our transatlantic family, it will also broaden the appeal of our services to new and existing customers who will have even more flexibility, added convenience and improved rewards when travelling between Europe and North America.
!This expanded partnership complements the recent inclusion of Finnair into the joint business between British Airways and Japan Airlines. It has never been a better time to plan your journey across the globe".